Isaac Banks

PR pro-tip: if you do NOT want to be known as someone else’s puppet, then refrain from telling people you are NOT that someone else’s puppet. When the inevitable media publicity comes, guess what impression is made in the public mind? This is a common misconception in communication, the assumption that named denials using the word NOT ‘X’ are somehow effective. More often than not, NOT denials ironically serve to spread and cement the opposite sentiment. https://lnkd.in/eh9DqpfU #leadershipcommunication #publicrelations #mediarelations #comms #pr

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Comms professionals might have a great track record of securing media coverage, but it's important to remember that media relations don’t come with guarantees—nor should they! Despite what some might think, it’s not a world of favours or gentle nudges to a media mate. The real magic happens when we craft a compelling narrative and tell stories that truly resonate. The best comms pros know it is a long game and it’s not about promises; it’s about building relationships and sharing stories that genuinely add value. That’s what leads to great coverage! #MediaRelations #PR #Communications #Storytelling

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Worth a read for guidance on how to approach your measurement challenges

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I've written something for PRmoment about Bluesky, PRs, and journalists - potential folly, but hopefully actually, good and useful. It's about why if done well (and supply and demand being key), Bluesky could become as much fun as Twitter was back when all this was fields *wafts hands around*, and how this is important for PR types and making journo friends. Caveat: this has the potential to both horrifically date and / or implode. https://lnkd.in/eVDQmxHd

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A soft launch is an excuse to just not have a rollout plan. I've been working on change programmes and internal comms initiatives for the best part of 20 years, and I have never - never - seen a soft launch actually work. So why do we do it, time and time again? 😱 Fear that no one will adapt to the change? 📋 An unwillingness to plan properly? 🤔 Business and cognitive overload? ❓️Or simply not knowing where to start? A soft launch sounds like the best of both worlds: you get your thing out there, but you can still tweak and adjust as needed. But that's not a soft launch. That's agile. Whatever the good intention, soft launches end up with, at best, half the business (at least) having no clue about the new thing/process/way of working, or, at worst, having to go back to the drawing board and come up with a proper plan. So I say again: a soft launch is used as an excuse for not having a rollout plan. Tell me I'm wrong. 😉 #ChangeManagement #ChangeComms #SoftLaunch

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From Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Virgin Media O2: > Companies need a clear and actionable roadmap to achieve sustainability. This includes setting science-based targets and tracking ESG data. > Businesses must integrate sustainability into their core operations, including product design, supplier selection and efficiency improvements. > Effective stakeholder engagement is crucial for ensuring accountability and progress on sustainability goals. > Employees need to be at the centre of the company's sustainability efforts through education, training and recognition programs. > Balancing profitability with sustainability is achievable and essential for long-term success. Full POV here: https://lnkd.in/gC2Ce4tM

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Whatever happened to the embargo? Does it mean what it once did? Will a journalist always honour the request? And what does the world of AI and automated storytelling mean for distributing comms releases with a particular date in mind? I've had several conversations with both PR peers and journalists of late, about how much the embargo is requested or followed. Interesting to read this article, which looks at how the concept has changed. For me, relationships matter hugely in how an embargo is adhered to, and I've been hugely fortunate to have been able to apply it with some brilliant media professionals over sensitive issues for many decades. That said, I suspect it does sometimes get 'over-used' in a bid to exaggerate the significance of a cause or campaign. If you're minded to use an embargo in your media outreach, my tips are this: - Consider whether you really need one, and what your purpose is - Really question what would happen if the embargo was not adhered to (does it matter, and what would be the consequence) - Are you taking too general or automated approach? Might a personal liaison with a journalist work better than a scatter-gun release, tailored for a specific time? Would love to know if any PR fancies confessing to the consequences of a broken embargo... #PR #communications #journalism #mediarelations https://lnkd.in/e7pqHbZW

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Authenticity, inclusivity, sustainability, and community. If I had 2 dirhams for every time these words came up in conversation over the past week - I'd probably be able to pay off the loan on the new car. The silver lining to an industry in flux? A generation that spoke but didn't act has given way to a generation that both speaks and acts. Looks like it's time for all brands and marketers to follow suit. (keyword: All) Experts from the industry (both young and old) spoke to me this week, and counselled caution saying that Gen Z “attitudes can’t be ignored” especially since they “have the power to make or break a brand”. Thank you to GroupM MENA's Nay Riachy; TBWA\Raad's Mohammad El Tayech; MSL Group Middle East 's Mary S.; and Keyade Middle East's Laura Gleadhill for the honest opinions. #Marketing #Advertising #Campaigns #Authenticity #Inclusion #Personalisation #Sustainability #Community

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This is an important piece of work by #Mepra and one that we should all consult as we continue to navigate the AI landscape. Fantastic and timely work by Margaret Flanagan and team. #communications #AI

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Internal communications is an integral part of any organisation — whether you’re in PR or otherwise. A recent report found that internal comms budgets have decreased by 205 over the last 12 months. For industries that thrive on communication, like PR and advertising, this is worrying. Internal communications needs to addressed from the top-down. Without it, entire industries can suffer. #internalcommunications #PR #communications

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On bridging the #climate #communication gap, as extreme weather becomes the norm, the climate crisis demands urgent action. APCO’s Climate Action Confidence Tracker reveals a critical disconnect: while concern is high, many doubt enough is being done. This article highlights five essential steps for companies to close this gap—starting with clear, relatable communication. Read more to discover how together we can make a difference: https://lnkd.in/e8YU2nPX #ClimateAction #Sustainability #NetZero #CorporateResponsibility #Environment #UncommonGround #APCOMENA #APCO

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Five weeks until the General Election 🙌 Which means a deluge of election-related coverage in national news media and a rather dismal outlook for consumer PR stories. But fear not, PR comrades, we’ve still got a job to do! Here are my top three tips to land consumer PR stories amidst the election madness: 1️⃣ Leverage Timely Research-Based Storytelling 🕵️‍♀️ Ah, research. The magic dust that makes any story seem legitimate. Use it to make your campaign timely and irresistible to journalists. But do please stick to data that genuinely adds value. When space is as tight as a politician’s conscience, leading with solid research can help you cut through the clutter. 2️⃣ Align with Public Sentiment and Electoral Themes (if it’s a natural fit) 🗳️ If your brand’s values naturally align with key election issues, by all means, go forth and conquer. But remember, forced relevance is the PR equivalent of wearing sunglasses indoors - desperate and slightly tragic. Authenticity is key. If there’s a genuine connection, journalists will be grateful for the expert insights and relevant commentary. Otherwise, stick to your lane. 3️⃣ Be Proactive and Adaptable 🚀 In PR, we all know that the media landscape is more unpredictable than a reality TV star's career. With the election on the horizon, it’s even more volatile. Stay ahead by being proactive in your outreach and adaptable to the ever-changing news agenda. Quick, responsive pitches with fresh angles on developing stories are your best bet. Read all the papers (yes, all of them) and prep your stories and assets in advance. Ready, set, pivot! Good luck navigating the election season, fellow PR warriors! And do share your thoughts and survival tips. 🍀 #PR #MediaRelations #Election2024 #ConsumerPR #Storytelling #ResearchDrivenPR #PublicRelations #PRTips #MediaStrategy #ElectionBuzz #BrandStorytelling

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It's been a messy, emotional and complicated week this week for your faithful editor, his second in Dubai, and one that he'll happily put behind him. One of the few joys, however, was putting together the latest Miscellany and learning more about playbook-itis, why the influencer industry needs guardrails, the power of rapid response (or not), CEO empathy and private equity, making a genuine apology, and much more. So enjoy, hug your loved ones, reach out to old friends, and stay healthy. #communications #publicrelations https://lnkd.in/dHjTxTu9

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From Profit to Purpose - time to gear up for the Annual Report and ensure we accurately communicate our stance on sustainability. Every financial year begins and signals the start of the Annual Report process. Embracing the Green Revolution in Business with a collaborative ally is invaluable, especially with evolving regulations and shareholders' expectations of integrated sustainability reporting. #AnnualReport #SustainabilityReporting #FinancialYear #BusinessStrategy

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If you're at all interested in corporate communications, in preservation of reputation and about the delicate relationship between comms and HR teams, then follow the Post Office trial as if your life depends on it. It's a fascinating watch for a comms nerd like me. Some reminders I want to reiterate to you all as I watch this play out: - Never should institutional bias come in the way of truth-telling and accurate communication - A sorry must be considered, structured and delivered in such a way as it truly reflects your (or your brand's) actions, impact, and future intentions to put right the errors of your ways - When a comms team tells any manager that 'this is the line of messaging we're going to use...', it is on the individual to respond in the spirit of truth and accuracy, and, with hand on heart, to say 'no, I absolutely know that not to be true' - Comms professionals don't seek to protect brands at all costs, with no thought for individual (or shouldn't). Good comms professionals want you to preserve your reputation and assist the brand's storytelling in the best light possible, but they are NOT there are as a pawn to cover truth and facilitate lies - HR teams and comms teams should be so incredibly well aligned. They should know the drumbeat of one another's narrative. They should have shared understanding of the brand's challenges and how this impacts internally and externally. Where employee service teams and comms teams are disjointed and disassociated, I only ever see the potential for trouble and strife How is your business doing on aligning HR and PR? When was the last time your C-Suite team reflected o the likely trials and tribulations for your brand, and how you might postion these for internal and external comms? Always happy to step in for an audit or informal chat. Feel free to get in touch. #PR #communications #reputationmanagement #corporatecommunications https://lnkd.in/d3hewKZc

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Corporate Affairs: Valuable but hard to value? That is the way a corporate affairs director recently described their CEOs view of their functions work to me in an interview for our latest report Volatility and Value. There is certainly truth to the observation as most corporate affairs activities don’t culminate in an easily quantifiable transaction, such as a sale. And yet it is still not a great place to be for the profession.  Not least as CFOs remain focused on managing costs and functional spending. CA directors told us that they accept their departments are not exceptions to commercial accountability. They are on the record that they want to be able to articulate the business, and financial impact of their work and with that, what return the business gets on its increasingly substantial corporate affairs investment. So far, so good. How do to this is still proving elusive to many CA leaders. We know this from direct recent client experience. In the past few weeks several clients, no doubt with one eye on the annual budget and planning process for 2025/6, have contacted us to discuss what this could and should look like. The good news is that corporate affairs work can and does yield a range of positive business outcomes. A favourable regulatory or legislative result, enabled by Government affairs work, can open new markets, or reduce operating costs such as taxation and duties. Quantifying the financial value of these outcomes gives the function a claim on direct value creation and protection that the CEO and CFO will understand and appreciate. We are working with several clients right now to help them solve this puzzle. It is not easy. A standard methodology and a reporting framework for the corporate affairs industry is needed and soon. Get in touch if you would like to explore how Deloitte could help if valuing your corporate affairs work is a challenge. And if you are aiming to build a more strategic, commercial and growth focussed corporate affairs function in 2025.  

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The Pitfalls of Half Measures in Communication In today's always-connected world, as a communications professional, I've observed the growing trend of what I call "half measures" in communication. In a world where instant and constant connectivity is the norm, how we handle our interactions can profoundly affect both personal and professional relationships. While many people strive to stay connected—whether by choice or trend—there is a troubling rise in the practice of communicating through half measures. This approach, including disabling blue read receipts and selectively ignoring calls, can undermine effective communication and trust. Disabling Blue Read Receipts lead to mistrust and tension since you are not sure if your messages are seen or plain ignored, it is also displaying disinterest which often strains professional relationships. It is a strong pointer towards selective accessibility which is definitely not acceptable in a professional role. Ignoring Calls and not answering calls in business settings is seen as avoidance, disrespect for others and often missed opportunities. Finding Balance is the key then. So how does one do it? By setting clear expectations: communicating your availability and response times to manage expectations and reduce misunderstandings. Offering alternatives: Suggesting other communication methods for non-urgent matters, like email, or schedule specific times to return calls. Choosing Tools Wisely: Using communication tools that fit your needs and ensure you stay accessible and engaged. Addressing Issues Proactively: If your communication style is causing problems, addressing them directly to clarify intentions and resolve conflicts. While managing communication preferences is important, using tools wisely and maintaining clear, timely interactions are the key to effective communication and strong relationships.

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We've been living in the world of AI for two years (I'm crediting the launch of ChatGPT in Nov 2022 as being pretty much epoch-defining). What's been the effect for communicators, communications and reputation? Some of my thoughts kindly published by PRWeek UK (thanks John Harrington), and here's a quick precis: 🤖 While PR has historically been slow to change, lots of amazing work has been done to prepare the profession to pivot to AI (CIPR #AIinPRPanel etc) - supported by a growing body of transformational tech 🤖 Lots of PR people are using AI, organisational policy and training still lacking in many cases (see Chartered Institute of Public Relations state of the profession 2024) 🤖 AI deployment more widely is becoming BAU - meaning less opportunity for brands to differentiate on it ("Company XYZ launches AI solution" no longer as newsworthy as it once was). Having an answer to the AI question is pretty much now table stakes for most if not all orgs. 🤖 Scrutiny (and scepticism) remains high. In the race to catch/keep up, misuse of AI is a significant reputation risk and can quickly erode hard won brand trust. AI literate PR pros have a big role to play here in helping orgs to identify, prepare for, and neutralise these threats (see link in comments) https://lnkd.in/eagzcHKJ

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